The roles of vibration analysis and infrared thermography in monitoring air-handling equipment

Richard Norman Wurzbach

doi:10.1117/12.497472

1 April 2003 The roles of vibration analysis and infrared thermography in monitoring air-handling equipment

Richard Norman Wurzbach

Proceedings Volume 5073, Thermosense XXV; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.497472
Event: AeroSense 2003, 2003, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Industrial and commercial building equipment maintenance has not historically been targeted for implementation of PdM programs. The focus instead has been on manufacturing, aerospace and energy industries where production interruption has significant cost implications. As cost-effectiveness becomes more pervasive in corporate culture, even office space and labor activities housed in large facilities are being scrutinized for cost-cutting measures. When the maintenance costs for these facilities are reviewed, PdM can be considered for improving the reliability of the building temperature regulation, and reduction of maintenance repair costs. An optimized program to direct maintenance resources toward a cost effective and pro-active management of the facility can result in reduced operating budgets, and greater occupant satisfaction. A large majority of the significant rotating machinery in a large building environment are belt-driven air handling units. These machines are often poorly designed or utilized within the facility. As a result, the maintenance staff typically find themselves scrambling to replace belts and bearings, going from one failure to another. Instead of the reactive-mode maintenance, some progressive and critical institutions are adopting predictive and proactive technologies of infrared thermography and vibration analysis. Together, these technologies can be used to identify design and installation problems, that when corrected, significantly reduce maintenance and increase reliability. For critical building use, such as laboratories, research facilities, and other high value non-industrial settings, the cost-benefits of more reliable machinery can contribute significantly to the operational success.

Citation Download Citation

Richard Norman Wurzbach "The roles of vibration analysis and infrared thermography in monitoring air-handling equipment", Proc. SPIE 5073, Thermosense XXV, (1 April 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.497472

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